Cadw’r Cof Celebration

The community came out in droves to see the exciting launch of the film premiere of the Cadw’r Cof (Keep the Memory) community project recently. Ysgol T Llew Jones, Brynhoffnant, was awarded £9,600 in grant funding from the Cynnal y Cardi Project, an Axis 4 LEADER project funded by the Wales Rural Development Programme with support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, in order to develop their Cadw’r Cof (Keep the Memory) Project.

The school came up with the idea for the project as a way of engaging the local communities and for developing community cohesion by creating opportunities for adults and children to participate in a project which involves all elements of the community both in the school and the surrounding communities.

Head Teacher Alwyn Ward said: ‘The project aims to celebrate the local community by asking them to decide on content for the film that is relevant to them. The project also delivered numerous community training opportunities and provided an opportunity for those involved to make a record of the social and cultural aspects of life in their local area. The school has purchased video-cameras and other equipment to enable filming to take place in various locations throughout the project time; camcorders have been out in the local villages, community events and at the school. Locals of all ages have been working individually and in groups to reflect the history and stories which have come about naturally through the process of exploring, investigating and filming for the project. The premiere of the film also included comedy sketches produced by the children, and provides a good insight into life in the area.’

Members of the community have been assisted to produce the film by local community film makers and photographers Lleucu Meinir, and Heledd Sion who have been providing training in filming techniques, editing and film production. Film clips are available to view through Lleucu Meinir’s website (www.lleucu.com). Community members have contributed their volunteer time towards the project and it has proven to be really popular.

Lleucu Meinir said: ‘It has been a privilege to work on the Cadw’r Cof community film project and getting to know these communities in West Wales better. Dozens of people in the communities threw themselves into the activity of creating a film record of their communities in a number of genres, and according to the taste of all kinds of people. I only hope that what has been seen in the film premiere of Cadw’r Cof is just the beginning, and that they will all continue to record and create with the equipment that will remain at the school.’

Cynnal y Cardi Rural Community Officer Loretta Wigfall added: ‘This project has been a real success, we are really happy with the way the project has developed, with community members really taking ownership of the project and contributing lots of volunteer hours to it.’